New bat species discovered on Island

A new species of bat has been found on the Island.

Evidence of the Lesser Horseshoe bat was discovered by Manx Bat Group following DNA tests on droppings found in a cellar at a house in the south of the Island as part of a routine monitoring visit.

According to the group it takes the number of known bat species on the Isle of Man to nine and its members will be carrying out more fieldwork in the coming season to find out more information.

The Lesser Horseshoe bat is one of the smallest of its kind in the UK weighing between four and nine grammes and in Britain is only usually found in Wales, South West England and the Western counties of Ireland.